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How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Thorndike Maine

Thorndike ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Thorndike ME might at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. When they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Thorndike ME

cat with cone after surgery in Thorndike ME Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Thorndike ME veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Thorndike ME laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Thorndike

student attending online vet tech school in Thorndike ME An option that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Thorndike ME veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Thorndike ME Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Thorndike ME vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Thorndike ME area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Thorndike ME area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Thorndike ME veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Thorndike ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Thorndike ME veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Thorndike ME schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Thorndike ME home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Thorndike ME. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Thorndike ME?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Thorndike Maine area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Thorndike, Maine

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.26 square miles (65.42 km2), all of it land.[1] The town is drained by Halfmoon Stream. The town is crossed by state routes SR 220 and SR 139.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 890 people, 330 households, and 232 families residing in the town. The population density was 35.2 inhabitants per square mile (13.6/km2). There were 396 housing units at an average density of 15.7 per square mile (6.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.5% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 330 households of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.7% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.16.

Select the Ideal Vet Tech College near Thorndike ME

Thorndike ME vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Thorndike ME.